Rabble for low-temperature coal-distillation purposes



Fan; 29 1924. 1,482,342

E. BARRS RABBLE. FOR LOW TEMPERATURE COAL DISTILLAT ION PURPOSES Filed Dec. 19. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 E7. 29 1924.. 1,482,342 7 E. BARRS RABBLE FOR LOW TEMPERATURE COAL DISTILLATION PURPOSES Filed Dec. 19. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Jan. 29 1924; 1,482,342

E. BARRS RABBLE FOR ljOW TEMPERATURE COAL DISTILLATION PURPOSES Filed Dec. 19. 1921 4 she cs-sneet s al n" "In ibis- "II I III Jan. 29 1924. 1,482,342

E. BARRS RABBLE FOR LOW TEMPERATURE COAL DISTILLATION PURPOSES Filed Dec. 19. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ira o STATES EDWARD BABES, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

BLE FOB LOW-TEKPEBATURE GOAL-DISTILLATION PURPOSES.

. Application filed December 19, 1921. Serial No. 528,456.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, EDWARD BABRS, a sub'ect of the K' of England, residing at rays Inn, Lo ii lon, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rabbles for Low-Temperature Coal-Distillation Purposes, of which the following is aspecificatlon.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to rabbles for low temperature coaldistillation purposes orother purposes where a like movement of the material is required, and has for its object to provide a rabble of the type comprising a id or a pluralit of grids disposedone behmd. the other, an arranged to be reciprocated along or over the furnace-chamber floor in suc manner as to feed the material in the furnace-chamber forward and also turn it.

Rabbles arranged inv this manner have usually been moved forward alon the bed of the chamber, then raised vertica 1y out of the material and carried back above the same,"to be again dropped into it, and the grids 'of the rabble have sometimes beensloped' with a view to giving a turning movement to the material, but such arrangements have not been satisfactory.

For feeding material alo' the floor of a chamber according to t is invention,

- there is combined with a rabble of. the t pe described, means for causing it to trave in a path which is both upwardly and forwardly directed near the limit of its forward movement for the purpose of causin the material, as it is moved forward, to rofi upon itself and pile in heaps of approximately V-shaped across-section.

rollers on the rabble which run and lower tracks connected by 0 means for guiding the rabble preferably-take the formof laterally disposed uponupper .ramps at points traversed by the rollers towards the end of the forward movement, provided with means whereby the rollers can pass from the tops of the ramps to the upper tracks durin backward travel, and with means where y the rollers can pass at the end of their rearward movement to-the lower tracks.

The means for supporting the rollers during their passage from the to s of the ramps to the upper tracks may ta e the form of shunt-plates moved into'position (for example lengthwise) to'bridge the ga s in the upper tracks through which the re lers rise in ascending the ramps and moved back to clear the said gaps prior to the next traversing of the ramps by-the rollers.

In" the accompanying drawings which illustrate one method of carrying out this invention: k

Figure 1 is a vertical central section through the chamber in which the material is to be treated showing the rabble in elevation therein; the central 'portion'of the chamber is broken away.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the rear end of the rabble on a larger scale than that of Figure 1.

Fi ure 3 is a plan of the rear end of the rabb e.

ure 6 is a perspective view of part of .Figure 8 is a central. vertical section through part of a chamber and rabble constructed according to a modified method of carrying out this invention, and

Figure 9 is a transverse section of part of the chamber and rabble shown in Figure 8.

Like reference letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings. M

The furnace chamber. A may be of any convenient construction, that shown being provided with heating-conduits A which are fed with hot fluid from any convenient source and discharge into a chamber A at the rear of the furnace-chamber. The heating conduits referred to aredescribed and claimed in my application Serial No. 523,457, filed December 19, 1921. The apparatus arranged as shown, may be used for low temperature distillation of coal. A hopper B is provided at the rear end and coal fed in thereby will spread out on thesaid longitudinal members.

Alon each side of the chamber in which the rub 1e operates is a longitudinally disunt-plate 1n the form in which it is' ings only show that one which faces the observer in the sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. The member D 1s approximately in the form of an H-girder havin upper and lower flanges on both sides, ut the flan es on the inner side, that is the side towards the chamber are those which alone concern the present invention; these flanges are indicated at D and D respectively. The rollers C run on these flanges and gaps 1D and D 'are provided in the upper flange to permit the rollers to ass from the lower to the upper flange.

ising from the lower flange to the upper flange in each gap D is a ramp E up which the rollers can run and this ramp is extended above the level of the upper flange D Sliding, one on each member D, is a shuntplate F, Figures 1, 4 and 6. This may be a member of L-shaped cross-section having lateral. projections or lugs F andF on that face from which the bottom web does not extend. In Figures 4 and 5 the parts are shown dia ammatically soas to dispense with certain steps in the parts F F and the gaps D, D of the guidelate which make the construction more di cult to follow in a drawing, but the actual construction used is shown in Figures 6 and 7 and can be reoo ised by the like letters. The projections 1 lie flush with. the bottom of the shunt-plate and when the shunt-plate rests on the guide-plate at the extreme limit of its movement to the right -asrviewed in Figures 4 and 5, the parts F bridge the gaps D the undercut forward end of each bridge-piece lying over the upper portion of the correspondin ram The rear end of each bridge-piece is bevelled on the upper side and a space is left between this end and the projection or sto F sui ficient to accommodate one of the ro lers C.

The rabble carries on its underside a number of scrapers C which depend from the rabble, each scraper being perforated to constitute a grid, as shown at (1 Figure 2, and being supported at the back by one or more webs C. The rabble is' reciprocated by any convenient form of engine having operative connection with it by means of the connecting-rod indicated at G, Figure 1.

The operation of the rabble is as follows When it is in the position shown in. the drawings, with the rollers on top of the flat portions E extending forwardly from the ramps E, the rabble is at the full limit of its forward movement and at the highest point it reaches. The grids C then he clear of the coal-heaps B Figure 1,

iaeaaea and the backward movement is about to commence. As the rabble travels back the shunt-plates F remain stationaryduring the passage of the rollers along the fiat portions E and over the bridge-pieces F of the shunt-plates. The rollers thus pass over the gaps D and drop down the bevelled ends of the parts F on to the upper flanges D of the guide-plates. The shunt-plates are now relieved from the load of the rabble and the rollers C come against the stops F 2 on the shunt-plates so that the shunt-plates will now move backward with the rollers until the rollers come over the gap D when the rabble will drop until the rollers are arrested by the bottom flanges D The grids now lie in front of the heaps B of the coal and will thus move them forward as the rabble advances, with the rollers running on the bottom flanges D \Vhen the rollers strike the ramps E they travel up the same and in so doing the grids give an upward and forward wiping action over the face of the coal-heaps which causes the coal to roll upon itself, whereby in its course through the chamber all parts are open as the shunt-plate remains in the position it was moved to by the backward travel of the rabble and so the rollers C can pass freely up the ramps E and on to the level portions E The projections F however, overhang the level portions E and thus the rollers travelling along these parts will strike against the back ends of the stops F and cause the shunt-plate to move forward. It will be observed that during this forward movement of the shunt-plates the load of the rabble is not on the shunt-plates aii'dtherefore they can move freely. When the rabble has reached the end of its forward movement the parts are again in the starting position and the operation just described is repeated.

To prevent possible undue displacement of the shunt plates endwise, each plate has a gap H in the bottom web which co-operates with a stop H on the top of the guideplate. f

To rake the coal forward from the heap B the rabble is provided with three sets of raking-fingers, J, J and J respectively which are placed successively further to the rear of the rabble and at higher levels. As

shown in Figures 2 and 3, the fingers J To prevent coal from I messes tend further back than the raking-fingers so that they enter the coal within the mouth of the hopper as the rabble travels backward and will thus disturb it when the rabble drops and also when it begins its forward movement.

In case the rabble drops too heavily it may be counter-balanced and for this purpose it is shown as provided with wirecables K Figures 8 and- 9 guided over pulleys K ancing weights K The cables pass through stufliing-boxes indicated diagrammatically at L in the roof of the chamber so that the counter-balancing weights can be arranged outside the furnace-chamber. The counterbalancing weights would be arranged in pairs along the length of the "rabble, as many pairs being employed as found desirable. a

The top of the furnace-chamber is provided with a series of upwardly-extended collecting-chambers M each with an outlet M for gases driven 0d bye-the operation of heat upon the material under treatment, and where the nature of the gases changesas the material travels along the furnace it may be desirable to curtain off one collect ing-chamber and its corresponding portion of the furnace-chamber from the next 001- lecting-chamber and its corresponding portion of the furnace-chamber; For'this purpose a double series of downwardly-directed steam-nozzles N, N may be provided at the point where one collecting-chamber ends and the next begins, so that a double curtain of steam may be maintained-across'the fur-v nace-chamber at these points, and the space between one row of steam-nozzles-and its companion row is suchthat when the grid passln beneath it breaks throu h one row the ot er row is maintaining t e required curtain. I

I claim p ,1. The combination with a reciprocatory rabble comprising a frame, scrapers depending therefrom, and a'plurality of supporting rollers mounted laterally .on the frame, of a pair of fixed upper tracks for the-rollers, a pair of fixed lower tracks :for the rollers, which upper tracks are so shaped and each so arranged in relation to its corresponding lower track that ata point traversed by the rollers towards the end of their rearward movement the rollers can travel off their upper tracks on to the lower, a plurality of ramps, one for each roller, each rising from a lower'track towards the corresponding upper track at a point traversed by a roller towards the end of its forward movement, and shunt-plates, one for each upper track, arranged to connect the top of, each ramp with its'alloted upper track for guiding the rollers on to the upper tracks during'their rearward movement, and slidable into apoand provided with counter-bal 4 lower track that at a point traversed by the rollers towards the end of their rearward movement the rollers can travel off the upper tracks on to the lower, a plurality of ramps, one for each roller, each rising from a lower track towards the corresponding upper track at a-point traversed by a roller towards the end of its forward movement, and two shunt-plates, one for each upper track, arranged to be automatically moved endwise' by said rollers into its two end positions, in one of which ositions the shuntplates connect the top 0 each ramp with its allotted upper track, and in the other end position leave the ramps unobstructed for the upward travel of the rollers on them, lost motion being provided between the rearward and forward movement of the shuntplates.

3. The combination with a reciprocatory rabble comprising a frame, scrapers depending therefrom, and a plurality of rollers mounted laterally on the frame, of a air of upper tracks for the rollers, a pair 0 lower tracks for the rollers, which upper tracks are each separated by gaps into sections, some of which gaps are so arranged that the rollers can travel off the upper tracks on to the lower at the end of their rearward movement, a plurality of ramps, one for each roller, each rising from a lower track towards the forward end of a gap in the corresponding upper track at a point traversed by a roller towards the end of its forward movement, and slidable shunt-plates, one for each upper track, having lugs each arranged in one end position of the shuntplates, to bridge a gap at the top of a-ramp, and movable with the shunt-plates into the other end position wherein the ramps are left unobstructed for the upward travel of the rollers on them.

4. The combination with a reciprocatory rabble comprising a frame, scrapers depending therefrom, and a plurality of rollers mounted laterallyvon the frame, of a pair of. upper tracks for the rollers, a pair of'loy'wer tracks for the rollers, which upper tracks are each separated by gaps into sections, some of which gaps are so arranged that at a point traversed by the rollers towards the end of their rearward movement'the rollers ing lugs each arranged, in one end position of the shunt-plates, to bridge a gap at the top of a ramp, and movable with the shuntplates into the other end position wherein the ramps are left unobstructed for the up-' per travel of the rollers on them.

5. The combination with a reciprocator rabble comprising a frame, scrapers depen ing therefrom, and a plurality of rollers mounted laterally on the frame, of a pair of upper tracks and a pair of lower tracks for the rollers, which upper tracks are each so shaped and each so arranged in relation to its corresponding lower track that at a point traversed by the rollers towards the end of their rearward movement the rollers can travel off the upper tracks on to the lower, a plurality of ramps, one for each roller, each rising from a lower track towards the correspondin upper track at a point traversed by a ro er towards the end of its forward movement, and twoshuntplates, one for each upper track, slidable endwise on the upper tracks, said ramps extending each above one of said shuntplates, which shunt-plates have each a stop arran ed to coact with the rabble for automatically moving the shuntlates into two end' positions, in-one of whic ositions he shunt-plates connect the top 0 each ramp with its allotted upper track, and in the other end position leave the ramps unobstructed for the upward travel of the rollers p on them, the said stops being so disposed in relation to the vparts of the rabblewith which they coact that lost motion is provided between the rearward and forward movements of the shunt-plates.

6. The combination with a reciprocatory rabble comprising a frame, scrapers depending therefrom, and a. plurality of rollers mounted laterally on the frame, of a pair of upper tracks and a pair of lower tracks for the rollers, which upper tracks are each separated by gaps into sections, some of which gaps are so arranged that at a point traversed by the rollers towards the end of their rearward movement the rollers can pass through these gaps oif the upper tracks and on to the lower, a plurality of ramps, one for each roller, each risingffrom a lower track towards the forward end of a gapun the correspondin upper track at a po nt traversed by a roler towards the end of its forward movement, and shunt-plates, one for each upper track, having stops arranged to coact with and be driven by said rollers and drive the shunt-plates into two end positions, lost motion being provided between when the rearward movement-of the shuntplates commences.

7. The combination with a reciprocatory rabble comprising a frame, a pluralit of transverse scrapers depending one be ind another therefrom, a plurality of supporting rollers mounted laterally on the frame and a lu'rality of downwardly directe raking ngers mounted on therear end of the frame and arranged at different levels,

of a pair of fixed upper tracks for the rollers a pair of fixed lower tracks for the rollers, which upper tracks are so shaped and each so arranged in relation to its corresponding lower track that at a point traversed by the rollers towards the end of their rearward movement the rollers can travel off their upper tracks on to the lower, a lurality of ramps, one for each roller, e8,(\ risin from a lower track towards the correspon in upper track at a point traversed by a ro ler towards the end of its forward movement, and shunt-plates, one for each, upper track, arranged to connect the top of each ramp with its allotted upper track for guiding the rollers on to the uper tracks during their rearward movement, and slidable into a position wherein the ramps are left unobstructed for the upward travel of the rollers on to them.

8:, The cgmbihation with a reciprocatory,

rabble comprising a frame, a pluralit of transverse scrapers depending one be ind another therefrom, a plurality of supporting rollers mounted laterally on the frame, an

a plurality of downwardly directed'raking fin ers mounted on the rear end of the frame and arranged in a plurality of series located successively further to the rear beyond the adjacent end of the frame and at successively higher levels, of a pair of fixed upper tracks for the rollers, a pair of fixed lower tracks for the rollers, which upper tracks are so shaped and each so arranged in relation to its corresponding lower tracks that at a point traversed by the rollers towards the end of their rearward movements the rollers can travel ofi their upper tree on to the lower, a plurality of ramps, one for each roller, each rising from a lower track towards the corresponding upper track at a point traversed by a roller towards the end of its forward movement, and shuntplates', one for each upper track, arranged to connect the top of each ramp with its allotted upper track for guiding the rollers on to the upper tracks during their rearward movement, and slidable into a position wherein the ramps are left unobstructed for the upward travel of the rollers on to them.

9. rabble comprising in combination a supporting frame having laterally-disposed rollers for running on tracks, a plurality of transverse scrapers depending one behind another from said frame, a plurality of downwardly-directed raking-fingers mounted on the rear end of the frame and arran d at different levels, and a pack-brea er mounted on the rear of the frame and extending to the rear further than said rakingfingers.

10. A rabble comprising in combination a supporting frame having rollers for running on tracks, and a plurality of transverse Scrapers depending one behind another from said frame, a plurality of downwardly-directed raking-fingers mounted on the rear end of the frame and arranged at different levels, and a plurality of upwardly directed hooked packbreakers mounted on the rear of the frame and extending between said raking-fingers further to the rear than the said fingers.

11. The combination of a chamber, a reciprocatory rabble therein comprising a frame, scrapers depending from the latter, and a plurality of sufpporting rollers mounted laterally on the lame; a pair of upper tracks and a pair oflower tracks in said chamber for the rollers, which upper tracks are each so shaped and each so arranged in relation to its correspondin lower track that at a point traversed by t e rollers towards the end of their movement in one direction, the rollers can travel oil the upper track on to-the lower, a plurality of ramps, one for each roller, each rising from a lower track towards the corresponding upper track at a point traversed by a roller towards the end of its forward movement, and shunt-plates, one for each upper track, arranged to connect the top of each ramp with its allotted upper track for guiding the rollers on to the upper track during their rearward movement, and movable into a position wherein the ramps are left unob structed for the upward travel of the rollers on them, pairs of cables extending through the walls of the chamber and having their inner ends attached to two opposite sides of the rabble counterweights attached to the outer ends of the cables, and pulleys on the walls of the chamber carrylng said cables.

12. The combination with the runnin roller of a reciprocatory rabble, of a fixed upper and a fixed lower track therefor, which upper track is so arranged in spaced relation to the lower that at a point traversed by the roller towards the end of its movement in the one direction the roller can fall through space off the upper track on to the lower, a ramp rising from the lower track towards the upper at a point traversed by the roller towards the end of its movement in the other direction, and an endwise slidable shunting-member connecting the .top of the ramp with the upper track for guiding the roller on to the latter during its movement in the first said direction.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

EDWARD BARRS. 

